During a two-week period in 2007, a presentation of the BMW M3 4th generation car took place in Geneva. It was here that the new prototype of the future M3 Concept car was unveiled. The plan was for it to enter the automotive market in mass production. And it was at a German exhibition in September 2007 that BMW M3 E92 was officially introduced to the world. The range of BMW models was expanded beyond the basic coupe and convertible to include a sedan as well.
Cars in coupe and sedan bodies, equipped with an 8-cylinder engine, accelerated to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The convertible slightly lagged behind due to its weight, requiring 5.1 seconds for full acceleration.
The M3 CRT sedan underwent a minor update — the body components were made of carbon fiber.
The fourth generation initially carried the name M4, however, the manufacturer decided to expand the third generation lineup and gave the new project the name M3 instead of M4. The abbreviation «M» stands for the class of the car — «Motorsport.»
The BMW M3 E92 is a sports car that stands out among all coupe models due to its unique features:
- new transmission;
- 8-cylinder engine;
- carbon roof;
- lighter weight;
- stable structural strength.
The sports car underwent the most rigorous tests on the Nürburgring racetracks in Germany and successfully passed the trials.
Exterior of BMW M3 E92
The functionality of a vehicle is mainly determined by the quality of its components and assembly. The Coupe M3 E92 development project was created in such a way that only an 8-cylinder engine was located under the hood.
The rear part of the car is more massive and wide. Thanks to this, developers provided the possibility of installing four exhaust pipes. The aerodynamics of the model improved due to the special shape of the mirrors.
The power and elegance are added to the car by the 18-inch 5-spoke Advan Racing GT wheels from Yokohama, as well as the presence of a carbon roof. The car also features:
- enlarged air intakes at the front of the bumper;
- curved hood, emphasizing the sporty style;
- ventilation holes at the base of the front wings;
- a spoiler on the trunk, reducing aerodynamic air resistance.
Thanks to these additions, the BMW M3 E92 feels quite comfortable both on high-speed highways and in normal urban environments.
The Coupe M3 E92 can be found in eight color variations: red, blue, alpine white, classic black, graphite, gray, jerez black, and silverstone 2.
Read more: Review of the BMW M5 E61 sports car
Mirror
In the basic assembly, the mirrors are equipped with an auto-dimming system. This system provides additional safety for the driver. Mirror sensors detect bright light from a moving car behind and automatically dim the mirror to prevent the driver from being dazzled.
Wheels
Neat 18-inch wheels are included in the standard equipment of the BMW M3 E92 coupe. Appealing and stylish in appearance, they are lightweight, providing the car with improved speed characteristics, allowing it to accelerate to a hundred in the shortest possible time.
Headlights
Xenon headlights with an automatic lighting switching system are also included in the standard equipment. Thanks to this system, the driver is not distracted from the road. As soon as the sensors on the headlights detect an oncoming vehicle, the high beam automatically switches to low beam. Once the oncoming vehicle moves away, the system switches the low beam to high beam.
Interior of BMW M3 E92
The interior of the salon is made of leather and stylish carbon inserts. The ergonomics of the control instruments provide additional convenience of use — round instruments typical of the «Motorsport» series models. The seats have the ability to «remember» the comfortable position for the driver and passengers.
The design of the sports car's dashboard may seem minimalist at first glance, but this is where the main comfort of control lies. All instruments are located in one place, which actually facilitates the operation of the BMW M3 E92. The dashboard is silver in color. The tachometer has a red attention zone at 8000 rpm.
Ignition is done with a «keyless start» type by pressing the «start» button. The window control buttons are located on the doors. In the center of the central panel, there is the iDrive digital display, which visualizes the car's movement in case of reverse parking, provides access to car navigation, and records control parameter changes. The somewhat inconvenient software interface may initially cause some difficulties.
Engine and Oil
The BMW M3 E92 is equipped with an S65B40 engine. The four-liter 8-cylinder engine delivers a full power of 420 hp and develops a torque of up to 400 Nm.
Data on the engine characteristics:
- each cylinder has its throttle;
- Double VANOS variable valve timing system;
- cylinders are made of a silicon-aluminum alloy;
- lubrication is provided under heavy loads to prevent oil starvation;
- aluminum pistons are coated from above, resistant to high temperatures.
The Siemens MSS60 oil consumption sensor control system is installed. Original oils from well-known brands are used: Castrol 0w40, LIQUIMOLY, or the native — BMW LL-4 0w40.
The oil volume required for the BMW M3 E92 engine is 8.7 liters. To avoid friction of engine parts and accelerated wear, oil should be changed no later than every 8-10 thousand km traveled.
Technical Specifications of the BMW M3 E92
Features of the car presented by engineers:
- The M3 E92 coupe achieves a maximum speed of 250 km/h.
- The maximum weight is 2.08 tons.
- The fuel tank capacity is 63 liters.
- It has four seats: two in the front and two in the rear.
- Rear-wheel drive.
- 6-speed manual transmission.
- Only AI-98 gasoline is used.
- City road fuel consumption — 17.9 liters per 100 km.
- Highway consumption — 9.2 liters.
- For a mixed cycle, consumption varies — from 12 liters per hundred.
- Body length — 4.61m, width — 1.8m, height — 1.4 meters.
- Ground clearance — 120mm.
- Trunk volume — 430 liters
- Power steering is available.
Coupes manufactured after April 2008 have a 7-speed gearbox that can switch to automatic mode. The car is equipped with a powerful compressor, which can increase power up to 600 horsepower. With reduced compression, the compressor has a long service life.
Electronics, Chip Tuning
There is an integrated DSC system providing tire integrity when driving in aggressive conditions. When the system is activated, the brake pads engage, stopping the movement.
The responsive braking system of the BMW M3 E92 allows the car to almost immediately come to a stop with a strong press on the pedal. The car performs excellently in all conditions: on wet and slippery roads, the grip is stable.
For sport driving, there is an M Dynamic mode. It increases the drift of the car in both longitudinal and transverse directions. The driver can independently adjust the driving parameters using the M Drive system. This system controls the engine, steering, stability control — ESP, and shock absorbers. The system is activated by pressing the corresponding button.
To increase power, car enthusiasts tune the car. Chip tuning is carried out in specialized auto services in four stages:
- Downloading the basic software of the electronic control unit.
- Making the necessary changes.
- Entering the updated data into the control system.
- Checking compliance and excluding errors.
Trim Levels
The BMW M3 E92 has a full range of anti-theft system:
- immobilizer;
- satellite system;
- central lock.
For driver and passenger safety in the event of a collision, side airbags located at the sides, center, and on all seats will deploy.
For more comfortable travel, the salon is equipped with a radio and a mini-computer. Systems can be controlled using buttons on the steering wheel.
The model also has a standard set of options: heated seats, heated mirrors, steering wheel position adjustment, climate control system, seat adjustment in any position, and mirror visibility adjustment. There are fog lights.
Issues with BMW M3 E92
Common problems to pay attention to when purchasing this car model:
1). Rapid wear of motor connecting rods.
To prevent this, it is necessary to monitor their replacement every 70-75 thousand km traveled.
2). Starter breakdown.
Easily fixed in automotive services.
3). Malfunction of brake pads.
Brake pads need to be replaced every 10 thousand km.
4). Error occurrence and stability disturbance with tachometer readings at 3000 rpm.
Throttle synchronization is required.
5). Wear of gears in the servo drive.
Replacing them in specialized services will help.
6). Drying out of the panel under direct sunlight.
Installing light tinting on the windshield is required.
Conclusions
The BMW M3 E92 coupe sports car is a light and agile vehicle that achieves good speed in a short time. The internal design and ergonomics of the instruments give the model a special elegance and comfort during travel.
It is equipped with everything that may be needed for long-distance travel. The presence of many innovative systems and standard options adds safety for the driver and passengers.
The car is relatively easy to tune when needed. The coupe sports car is not immune to standard breakdowns and wear of components. They can be replaced without any major issues. And with careful operation and regular diagnostics, breakdowns can be avoided.
